US5195095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Algorithm for identifying tests to perform for fault isolation
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1990-12-28
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Granted: 1993-03-16
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Expires: 2010-12-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention, in one embodiment, is a method for identifying a test to perform for fault isolation. The method comprises the steps of identifying a loop/string of components having at least one component therein which is suspected of faulty operation, identifying a test, from a listing of tests, which satisfies pre-determined conditions, and selecting the identified test for performance.
Inventors
- 👤 Rasiklal P. Shah
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2273; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2832; G01R31/2836; G01R31/2846; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/911; Y10S706/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
A method for identifying a test to perform for fault isolation, said method comprising the steps of: (a) creating a diagram composed of blocks representing components of the system; (b) representing connectivity of the components on the diagram; (c) selecting a first start component; (d) assigning a first label to the start component; (e) identifying respective children components of the start component; (f) assigning the respective children components of the start component respective labels, the respective labels being unique for each component and representing the component connectivity; (g) selecting another start component if any component connectivity represented in the diagram is not represented by a label subsequent to performance of step (f) and, after selecting a second start component returning to step (e); (h) storing the assigned component labels: (i) upon generation of an error code, determining the component label of the component which generated the error code as a loop/string component; (j) identifying upstream components of the loop/string component by sequentially deleting the right-most alphanumeric digit of the loop/string component label thereby generating a match label, and matching the match label with the labels of other components, any component label which matches the match label being tagged as an upstream component; and (k) identifying downstream components of the loop/string component by comparing the left-most alphanumeric digits of labels of other components with the alphanumeric digits of the loop/string component label, any component label whose left-most alphanumeric digits match with the alphanumeric digits of the loop/string component label being tagged as a downstream component; (l) identifying a test from a listing of tests, which satisfies predetermined conditions, and (m) selecting the identified test for performance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
275 words
A method for identifying a test to perform for fault isolation, said method comprising the steps of: (a) creating a diagram composed of blocks representing components of the system; (b) representing connectivity of the components on the diagram; (c) selecting a first start component; (d) assigning a first label to the start component; (e) identifying respective children components of the start component; (f) assigning the respective children components of the start component respective labels, the respective labels being unique for each component and representing the component connectivity; (g) selecting another start component if any component connectivity represented in the diagram is not represented by a label subsequent to performance of step (f) and, after selecting a second start component returning to step (e); (h) storing the assigned component labels: (i) upon generation of an error code, determining the component label of the component which generated the error code as a loop/string component; (j) identifying upstream components of the loop/string component by sequentially deleting the right-most alphanumeric digit of the loop/string component label thereby generating a match label, and matching the match label with the labels of other components, any component label which matches the match label being tagged as an upstream component; and (k) identifying downstream components of the loop/string component by comparing the left-most alphanumeric digits of labels of other components with the alphanumeric digits of the loop/string component label, any component label whose left-most alphanumeric digits match with the alphanumeric digits of the loop/string component label being tagged as a downstream component; (l) identifying a test from a listing of tests, which satisfies predetermined conditions, and (m) selecting the identified test for performance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first start component is assigned the label "1" and a variable i is initially equal to "1", and each subsequent start component is sequentially assigned the label (i+1).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the children components are sequentially assigned an alphanumeric digit starting with "1" and including the parent component label.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the diagram is created on a graphical editor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the assigned component labels are stored within a central computer memory.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a component is represented in the diagram as an independent component only if the component is capable of generating an error code.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a component is represented in the diagram as an independent component only if the component has a probability of failure above a pre-selected failure probability.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
252 words
A method for operating a computer for identifying a test to perform for fault isolation, comprising the steps of: creating a diagram composed of blocks representing components of the system; representing connectivity of the components on the diagram; selecting a first start component; assigning a first label to the start component; identifying respective children components of the start component; assigning the respective children components of the start component respective labels, the respective labels being unique for each component and representing the component connectivity; selecting another start component if any component connectivity represented in the diagram is not represented by a label; storing the assigned component labels; upon generation of an error code, determining the component label of the component which generated the error code as a loop/string component; identifying upstream components of a first loop/string component by sequentially deleting the right-most alphanumeric digit of the first loop/string component label thereby generating a match label, and matching the match label with the labels of other components, any component label which matches the match label being tagged as an upstream component; and identifying downstream components of the first loop/string component by comparing the left-most alphanumeric digits of labels of other components with the alphanumeric digits of the first loop/string component label, any component label whose left-most alphanumeric digits match with the alphanumeric digits of the first loop/string component label being tagged as a downstream component; identifying a test, from a listing of tests, which satisfies pre-determined conditions; and selecting the identified test for performance.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
252 words
A method for operating a computer for identifying a test to perform for fault isolation, comprising the steps of: creating a diagram composed of blocks representing components of the system; representing connectivity of the components on the diagram; selecting a first start component; assigning a first label to the start component; identifying respective children components of the start component; assigning the respective children components of the start component respective labels, the respective labels being unique for each component and representing the component connectivity; selecting another start component if any component connectivity represented in the diagram is not represented by a label; storing the assigned component labels; upon generation of an error code, determining the component label of the component which generated the error code as a loop/string component; identifying upstream components of a first loop/string component by sequentially deleting the right-most alphanumeric digit of the first loop/string component label thereby generating a match label, and matching the match label with the labels of other components, any component label which matches the match label being tagged as an upstream component; and identifying downstream components of the first loop/string component by comparing the left-most alphanumeric digits of labels of other components with the alphanumeric digits of the first loop/string component label, any component label whose left-most alphanumeric digits match with the alphanumeric digits of the first loop/string component label being tagged as a downstream component; identifying a test, from a listing of tests, which satisfies pre-determined conditions; and selecting the identified test for performance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the first start component is assigned the label "1" and a variable i is initially equal to "1", and each subsequent start component is sequentially assigned the label (i+1).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the children components are sequentially assigned an alphanumeric digit starting with "1" and including the parent component label.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the diagram is created on a graphical editor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the assigned component labels are stored within a central computer memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein a component is represented in the diagram as an independent component only if the component is capable of generating an error code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein a component is represented in the diagram as an independent component only if the component has a probability of failure above a pre-selected failure probability.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-03-15 | 1996-09-14 | 1997-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-15 | 2000-09-14 | 2001-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-15 | 2004-09-14 | 2005-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |